The biggest argument /perception against 4k is: it's a community funded day care that the tax payer’s do not wish fund. Studies on statewide (Michigan, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Arkansas, and New Mexico) funded 4k shows that the demographic that benefitted the most are students that come from low-income families. While I think it is important to provide a good education for our community, there is only so much money to go around and the people who are not low-income should not be forced to pay for everything for everybody. Our state currently ranks 41st among state government debt, (meaning only 9 other states have more debt than us) of the states in the studies I mentioned previously with the exception of Arkansas (20th) all rank 33rd and higher with New jersey being the worst at 46th. We do not need to follow poor government spending choices made by those states, (among other choices) and it all starts with the communities and what WE are doing with OUR money, if a large amount of the communities support or do not support certain programs the state will follow (for the most part). The last election showed what the results are if the current government basically tells the public “I know what’s best for you, just be quite and take your medicine”. We kindly served them with a pink slip.
The average home value in our community went DOWN this year, and our school tax went UP, doesn’t make economical sense. In a perfect world we could afford everything for everyone. BUT we are not in a perfect world; we must live within our means. Bottom line is we cannot spend money we do not have.
Oh and if any one of you would like to know which state is most in debt?............. That would be Illinois, hmmmmmmm where did our President come from? Yeah, nothing like following a failed plan of spend, spend, spend.
ReplyDeleteInstead of arguing against 4k on cost alone, consider that past research has shown that early education (especially for poor & minority students) shows impressive gains in the first few years of elementary school. Yet, by the time these students reach their 9th birthday, any gains that were previously seen have been lost. Instead of throwing money at a 4K program, why not consider other ways to support students throughout their K12 career so they can succeed and become meaningful participants in our society and democracy. It is true that we can't solve our educational problems by throwing money at them, but also can't solve them by throwing words at them.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. We need to look at freezing any school tax hikes, examine our current programs we offer in the schools and wages we pay our teachers, see what is working and what is not, and make some adjustments or cuts. But right now, I am completely against borrowing more money and raising the taxes for ANY program. Not now or for the foreseeable future. What I can agree to is: ok, here’s program “A”, and here is how we are going to pay for it WITHOUT raising taxes or borrowing money for it.
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